Volkswagen diesel hybrid Golf

[Galaxy]

The german auto magazine Auto Motor und Sport is saying that officially this is still considered a concept but that VW officials have said that it will not stay that way.

The car has a 1.2L 75hp I3 with 190Nm of torque plus a 27hp electric engine. The power is brought to the wheels by a 7 speed DSG which has been available for about 6 month now. 

The average consumption is supposed to be 3.4L/100kms (69mpg).

There is no mention if average consumption means is highway, city or combined.

[nickdrinkwater]

Any word on CO2 emissions?

[Galaxy]

Any word on CO2 emissions?

3.4L/100km equals 90g/km.

[nickdrinkwater]

That's really good.

I hope they haven't compromised the handling by fitting skinny tires.  As long as they haven't had to do that, it could be promising.

[Galaxy]

I hope they haven't compromised the handling by fitting skinny tires.  As long as they haven't had to do that, it could be promising.

I am pretty sure that they have done that. They did it with the Blue Motion models after all.

[cawimmer430]

I hope this fuel economy is true. It would give the Prius an ass beating. 

[Vinsanity]

The average consumption is supposed to be 3.4L/100kms (69mpg).

There is no mention if average consumption means is highway, city or combined.

For hybrids, the city and highway mpg usually fall within a close range of each other. Many times, the city mpg is higher than the highway mpg.

I hope this fuel economy is true. It would give the Prius an ass beating. 

We'll see how much it costs...

[Tave]

I hope they haven't compromised the handling by fitting skinny tires. 

I hope I win the lottery. Only difference is my dream might come true.

[Galaxy]

We'll see how much it costs...

That will be interesting. VW does have a incentive to price this cheaply. Currently there is no such thing as CAFE in the EU but it is expected within the next two, three years. The VW group has a higher average consumption then Renault, PSA, or Fiat. This could help them even if they sell it at next to no profit.

[the Teuton]

Speaking that diesel around here is right around $3.59 and gas is 3.15 right now, I figured that you're getting 60 miles for every $3.15 spent on fuel for this car.  That's still not bad at all.  I hope this car is cheap.

[Vinsanity]

I plugged in some numbers into the fueleconomy.gov fuel cost calculator:

gasoline Rabbit: 25 mpg, $3.25/gal
diesel-hybrid Rabbit: 69 mpg, $3.75/gal

diesel-hybrid Rabbit would save $5,674 over the course of 75,000 miles. Which, incidentally would be the break-even point if the diesel-hybrid is able to match the Prius's $22k sticker price. Not bad, but there are better ways to save money.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I wonder how it would work in the cold with the engine shutting off all the time.

[Soup DeVille]

I wonder how it would work in the cold with the engine shutting off all the time.

Diesels burn so little fuel at idle that I wonder if it's worth it.

[GoCougs]

I plugged in some numbers into the fueleconomy.gov fuel cost calculator:

gasoline Rabbit: 25 mpg, $3.25/gal
diesel-hybrid Rabbit: 69 mpg, $3.75/gal

diesel-hybrid Rabbit would save $5,674 over the course of 75,000 miles. Which, incidentally would be the break-even point if the diesel-hybrid is able to match the Prius's $22k sticker price. Not bad, but there are better ways to save money.

Bingo - and that diesel hybrid will be a dog, too.

If people are that desperate to save money (read: waiting 75,000 miles), they probably shouldn't be buying new cars.

[NomisR]

New Diesels aren't available in CA anyways.  But what's the 0-60 and 1/4 mile, handling, braking # of that car?  That's what's important!!!

[giant_mtb]

I wonder how it would work in the cold with the engine shutting off all the time.

Glow plugs?

[GoCougs]

Glow plugs?

Glow plugs are not just for cold weather - they are needed on the hottest of days.

He brings up an excellent point - diesels are infamous for cranky cold weather starts.

[MX793]

Glow plugs are not just for cold weather - they are needed on the hottest of days.

Glow plugs aren't necessarily needed on warm days depending on the engine.  Diesels found in practically all medium-to-heavy commercial vehicles do not use glow plugs at all.

[GoCougs]

Glow plugs aren't necessarily needed on warm days depending on the engine.  Diesels found in practically all medium-to-heavy commercial vehicles do not use glow plugs at all.

Are you referring to grid heaters and pre-ignition chambers? Fair enough - "glow plugs" may have been a bit over arching, but most any diesel needs some sort of preheating kick start.

[MX793]

Are you referring to grid heaters and pre-ignition chambers? Fair enough - "glow plugs" may have been a bit over arching, but most any diesel needs some sort of preheating kick start.

A block heater for really cold weather, maybe, but on a normal day they don't need anything.  You can turn the key and then punch the start button almost immediately.